Elnora was a puzzle he couldnât quite piece together, but he knew he didnât want to stop trying. His threat to punish her should have made her back down, should have sent a chill through her defiant attitude. But instead, she met his gaze with a wicked grin, hoisting herself up on her elbows, eyes challenging him as she bit her bottom lip with shameless delight. It wasnât the first time a woman looked at him like that, but the fire in her eyes sparked something deep in himâa dangerous mix of desire and anger that threatened to consume him.
âI wouldnât mind a striptease while you get ready to punish me,â she teased, flipping her damp hair back, the taunt clear in her voice.
A dark smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he closed the distance between them, crushing her lips with his. He kissed her with a hunger that bordered on desperation, his need for her overwhelming any attempt at self-control. Her breath quickened, her body arching up to meet his, fingers tangling in his hair as he slipped an arm under her waist to pull her closer. She writhed beneath him, legs locking around his waist, the taste of her lips igniting a firestorm of lust. She moaned into his mouth, nipping at his lip with a ferocity that told him she was just as eager to devour him as he was to possess her.
He lifted her slightly with his right arm, the strength in his muscles taut as he stripped her top off, wanting to feel her skin, warm and bare beneath him. Elnora clung to him, her back arching as she flicked her tongue against his, driving him to the edge of madness. The blood pounded in his veins, the intensity of his arousal almost painful as he lost himself in her touch, her scent, her very essence.
There was no room for anything elseâno past, no future, just this moment with her. She eased her arms out of the top as he rolled it up, their eyes locking as he tossed it aside. Her hazel eyes were dark, almost stormy, as she drew in a ragged breath, her breasts rising and falling rapidly. She reached for him, gliding her hands down the front of his hoodie, unzipping it with deliberate slowness.
âWhatâs the plan?â she asked, her voice husky as she traced the scars on his chest, her fingers brushing against him with a touch that sent shivers down his spine.
He watched her, every muscle in his body coiled with tension, but there was no anger, no jealousy over her past with Enrico. There was only the burning question of whether he could handle her, this fierce, untameable force that had entered his life. Her fingers brushed across his lips, and he kissed them, unable to tear his gaze away from her. She was stunning, a vision of honeyed skin and dark, beaded nipples that begged for his attention.
âYou arenât planning on changing your mind again, are you?â Her voice brought him back, and he answered her with a long, sweet kiss, determined to keep his focus on her and only her. No more distractions, no more doubts. She was his now, no matter what their pasts held.
He braced himself over her, peeling off her bottoms to reveal the blue thong underneath. With a smirk, he traced the hem of the lace, appreciating how perfectly it clung to her curves. When his fingers slipped under the fabric to remove it, she quivered against his touch, and he felt a surge of possessive desire that nearly took his breath away.
She sat up to remove his hoodie, their eyes locking again, and he pushed her back onto the bed, pressing his weight against her as their skin met, hot and electric. Her lips parted under his, and he lowered his head to take one of her nipples into his mouth, feeling it harden against his tongue. She gasped, her body arching into him, and he knew then that he would never get enough of her.
Mason felt a surge of satisfaction as Elnora arched up against him, her gasp sharp and desperate as he rolled his tongue over her nipple, then grazed it with his teeth in a soft bite. The sensation of her fingers tangling in his hair sent a shiver down his spine, intensifying the fire that had been smouldering inside him since he first laid eyes on her.
âYouâre taking too long,â she breathed, her voice a whisper of urgency that fanned the flames within him.
He groaned at the raw need in her tone, flicking his tongue across her nipple until she gasped again, her body trembling beneath him.
âI promised a slow savouring, El,â he murmured, grinning against her skin.
She scowled, her impatience clear in the way her hips bucked up against him. âIâve waited long enough. I want you now.â
His grin widened at her demand. She was all fire and challenge. âYouâll have me soon, El. Just enjoy.â
Her skin was soft beneath his touch, a big contrast to her big audacity. When she started to sit up, he captured her lips in a kiss, coaxing her back down. His mouth traced a path down her throat, lingering at her nipple before his fingers joined in, teasing and tugging until her shudders and moans were his to claim.
As he kissed his way down to her navel, his hands slid along her thighs, feeling her body tense under his touch. He glanced up, catching the way her eyes locked onto him, dark and glistening with lust. But there was something else there too, a flicker of uncertainty that gave him pause. He didnât understand it, and he wasnât about to let it ruin the moment.
He brushed a kiss on her smooth, wet centre, watching as she swallowed hard, her breath catching. The hesitation in her eyes gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside, moving back up to kiss the sensitive spot just below her ear.
âWhatâs wrong?â he whispered against her skin, his lips trailing down the side of her neck.
She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. âNothing,â she answered, but he wasnât convinced.
He held her chin, capturing her lips in a kiss that was meant to erase any lingering thoughts of anyone else. Enrico. He knew she might be thinking of his brother, but he would make her forget him, make her understand that she was his now.
Their kiss deepened, a timeless connection that seemed to melt away the world around them. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, and he let himself drown in her sweetness, in the feel of her soft skin under his hands. He let his hand drift lower, brushing between her thighs, pinching her just enough to make her gasp sharply.
He cradled the back of her neck, kissing the corner of her lips as he worked his finger along the folds of her slick, warm centre before sliding it inside her. Her head tipped back as a moan escaped her, and he grazed his teeth along her throat, feeling her pulse race beneath his lips. He slid a second finger, pushing deeper, faster, as she lifted her hips, writhing under his touch. The sound she made, a mix of pleasure and desperation, sent a thrill of satisfaction through him, and he kissed her slowly, thoroughly, determined to make her feel every bit of the possessive fire burning within him.
Again, his lips travelled lower, his fingers slipping out of her as he braced her waist, lifting her thighs to position himself between her legs. Her eyes opened, locking onto his with a look that was equal parts invitation and challenge, a heat rising from her that made his pulse quicken. The small, knowing smile that played on her lips only stoked the fire in his veins.
He leaned in, pressing his lips to her clit, and felt her breath hitch sharply. The sound, the way her body responded, roused something primal in him. His tongue flickered over her, slow at first, then faster, his gaze never leaving her face as her eyes fluttered closed, her expression one of pure, unfiltered bliss.
Her thighs spread wider, opening up to him, her body arching in silent surrender. She clutched at his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin with a sharpness that sent a jolt of electricity straight through him, settling deep in his loins.
She was his, completely, utterly, and he revelled in the control he had over her pleasure. As she moaned, her hips moving in rhythm with his tongue, Masonâs grip tightened on her waist, holding her steady as he brought her to the edge, pushing her closer with every flick of his tongue.
He could feel the tension building within her, a coiled spring ready to snap. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and he could sense she was close, teetering on the brink.
But he wasnât ready to let her fall just yet. He wanted to savour every second, to draw out her pleasure until she was begging for release. And when he finally allowed her that moment, when he felt her body tense beneath him, he knew it was his name she would cry out, his touch she would crave long after the night was over.
Mason glanced up at her, watching as her head tilted back, her mouth parted in a silent plea. With a final, lingering kiss, he drew back slightly, his hands still firm on her waist, ready to push her over the edge when he decided it was time. For now, he wanted to enjoy the sweet torment of watching her come undone.